Author: Katie Black

Emily Morgan is once again heading to sunnier climes after a busy summer.

This summer we had a partial refit. The engine has been completely reconditioned, it now sounds so smooth & quiet! Whilst the engine was away Bones refurbished the engine bay and put in new engine mounts. Other maintenance was more low key: the sails were sent away for laundering and minor modifications and all upholstery was deep cleaned. We have new pillows and linens too. The varnish work is now being refreshed so Emily Morgan will be in tip top condition.

Carrying on our policy of continuous improvement, we have found that the paddleboards we invested in last year have been incredibly popular, but we have also been busy investing in updates to various qualifications to ensure that we are both well equipped to deal with any emergency situation, whether medical or sailing related.

Now we are in Las Palmas ready to take part in the ARC again. We had a lovely mixed crew for the trip down and after a benign crossing of Biscay we explored some of the beautiful Galician rias in northern Spain together. We had a partial crew change in Lisbon and had a leisurely sail down to Las Palmas via Sesimbra and Sines in Portugal and Tenerife, ensuring that we also completed an ocean qualifying passage for one of our crew. At times there were two sextants in use as the rest of the crew got interested in learning astro navigation!

Our ARC crew had a good bonding weekend in the Solent in August and we are looking forward to doing the ARC with them. So we will be in the Caribbean for early December, eta in St Lucia is 8th December but you can watch our progress via the ARC yellow brick tracker or marine traffic which picks up our AIS signal.

This winter we are looking forward to spending time in our favourite Caribbean anchorages, showing our guests the delights of the Lesser Antilles from the Virgin Islands through to the Grenadines. We will then be heading to Bermuda for the excitement of the Americas Cup, the J-Class regatta and the superyacht challenge. In 2012 we had great fun being a stake boat for the Americas Cup world series so we are really looking forward to the big event. Looking further ahead in 2018/19 we will be doing the World ARC.

Emily Morgan is a classic Bowman 57 sailing yacht. She was designed by Holman and Pye, who later designed many Oysters, and built by Southampton Boat Services in Hampshire, UK.

The spacious cockpit is perfect for sipping a cold sundowner whilst watching the sunset. It has an opening table for magical lunches and dinners under the stars. The large bimini fends off the fiercest midday sun. Sun lovers aren’t forgotten, there’s plenty of comfy cushioned deck space for soaking up the sun when we reach the anchorage, just don’t forget to lash on the factor 30!

Sail handling is managed with furling headsails, mainsail with lazyjacks, a mizzen sail aft as well as a spinnaker and mizzen staysail when speed is of the essence. Emily Morgan is easy to handle with her flexible rig.

Emily Morgan is a thoroughbred yacht, comfortable under way and at anchor. She is pretty, with beautiful lines, yet capable of handling heavy seas if the weather turns nasty.

Build your sea miles and experience with unforgettable ocean sailing at its best! Use these trips as qualifying passages for your RYA Ocean Yachtmaster exam, learn to use a sextant and gain experience of extended cruising or just enjoy the adventure. Emily Morgan has crossed the Atlantic many times and as an MCA category zero yacht is fully equipped for a safe crossing. Crew will expected to be involved fully with sailing the boat including watch keeping, steering, sail changes, cooking and some general maintenance.

Individual berths are available for both trips, see the Accommodation page for more details. We include all food and soft drinks whilst at sea, YM Ocean Skipper and YM Offshore 1st Mate, all running costs of the boat. Excluded is Personal Travel/Medical Insurance (a requirement for all crew), Flights and Local taxes. We prefer people to commit to whole voyages but will take single leg bookings where applicable.

What better way to start your marriage than by enjoying a honeymoon yacht charter on Emily Morgan in the beautiful Caribbean sea with its crystal clear waters, tropical islands and clear blue skies. When honeymooning onboard Emily Morgan enjoy sipping champagne and eating delicious food while taking in the wonderful sights. Whether you want to have a action packed honeymoon sailing, knee-boarding, fishing and kayaking; a relaxing time spending your days alone on secluded beaches or a mixture of both, Emily Morgan can cater for you!

Emily Morgan will soon to be on the start line among 200+ other yachts, a very exciting moment! The ARC is a ‘must do’ for many sailors, and attracts over 200 boats and 1200 people every year to sail 2700 NM across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. See below for more details on sailing the ARC with Emily Morgan – an opportunity not to be missed.

The ARC is for everyone; families with children, tough racers, cruising couples, big boats and modest boats. Crossing the Atlantic together, but having their own adventures. More than just a boat race, the ARC is about friendships made ashore in the two weeks of pre-departure activities continued over the radio net at sea. It’s about arriving in Saint Lucia to be met on the dock with a rum punch and a chilled beer, knowing you have achieved something fantastic – crossing an ocean on a small sailboat.

Sail the ARC on Emily Morgan

Join Emily Morgan for an amazing adventure sailing across the Atlantic with around 200 other yachts! Emily Morgan has crossed the Atlantic many times and as an MCA category zero yacht is fully equipped for a safe crossing. Hosts aboard Emily Morgan are husband and wife team “Bones” and Anna Black who have a number of Atlantic crossings under their belts plus 30+ years sailing experience.

Crew will expected to be involved fully with sailing the boat including:

Watch keeping

Steering

Sail changing

Cooking (+ fishing!)

General maintenance

Cost & Dates
The cost to sail the ARC is £4000 per person, this includes:

All safety equipment

All bedding & towels

All inclusive delicious home-cooked food and beverage onboard

A pre weekend in the Solent to get to know the boat and fellow crew members

A week’s preparation in Las Palmas

Entry to all the ARC seminars, safety demonstrations and ARC parties

Please note: Flights, travel insurance and meals taken ashore are not included

The 2,700 nautical mile passage to St Lucia on the North East trade wind route takes between 15 to 18 days.

Enquiries
Please get in touch if you have any interest in sailing the ARC 2017 or Circumnavigate with the World ARC on Yacht Emily Morgan in 2018/2019! Click here to register your enquiry or visit the official ARC website for more information.

Follow us on Facebook to see our latest photos and guest comments from the ARC 2016 plus previous Transatlantic crossings.

Testimonials

St Lucia – Bequia, Canuan, Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Mustique, Bequia, Petit Nevis, St Lucia. A most wonderful sailing vacation! The best yet. We hope to come again for more. See you in Gran Canaria!

March 2015

Andy

The perfect mother ship to the mad crew of Southern Child during ASW 2016! Always there to help and provide! Thanks for everything.

Antigua Sailing Week 2016

Susan

Thank you so much for a wonderful holiday! We saw amazing blue water and great snorkeling! Bones was an awesome Captain and really did a fantastic job teaching us all some sailing techniques! Anna is an amazing cook and pastry chef! Everything was delicious and very much appreciated!

December/January, 2015

Ursula

Thank you for the adventure of a lifetime! I felt safe, happy and engaged all the way across the Atlantic. You are the best sailors I know! All the best.

Antigua to Horta, May 2015

Tim

Fantastic experience, thank you all. Will be back for the ‘other half’ – warmer! Diolch yr fawr, pob hwyl.

Horta to Plymouth, 2016

Uwe

This was my first time on a large sailboat, the experience could not have been more thrilling. Thank you.

April 2015

Ned

What do you get if you mix 5 Slovakians, 1 English, 1 Scottish, 1 Brazilian, 1 Korean and 1 Polish…..A GREAT TRIP!

June, 2014

Judy

Amazing trip – terrifying, fantastic, thought provoking & educational as well (!) Have loved a superb crossing, many, many thanks – I felt safe and secure all the way

ARC 2015

Roger & Ann

Thank you for a fantastic holiday. Great sailing, fantastic cooking. We couldn’t have asked for more. Hope to be back soon.

February, 2014

Adrian

A breath taking journey with a great crew and fantastic leadership! Anna & Bones you knew and know how to lead a ship and life where we had the opportunity to learn and have a unique experience. You made sure we had fun, had a great time and all in all one cannot want for

Antigua to Plymouth, 2016

Jasmine & Jonathan

Words arent enough to explain the joy and gratitude we have for you two wonderful people. You two, Emily Morgan and Barbuda made it such a perfect ending for our Honeymoon! We could not have dreamed better than that! Thank you thank you thank you!!

January, 2015

Stuart & Katie

Sun, sea, sand and obviously sailing!! An amazing time with fantastic group of people. A trip which has given me memories I will have forever. Anna, amazing cooking; Bones, amazing appetite and both incredible hosts!!

December, 2014

Tony

Thanks for a fantastic voyage and all the tips on seamanship, sextant and great sailing! Enjoyed the challenge, the many and varied conditions and the diverse crew and companionship. Happy sailing in the years ahead!

Antigua to Plymouth, 2016

Ross

Best day ever – second time round. Thank you so much.

J Class regatta, June 2015

Roger & Ann

We thought that it couldn’t get any better than last year in Antigua on Emily Morgan – we were wrong – great hosts, great boat, great cruise in 2015!

February, 2015

Barbara

FANTASTIC vacation. So much fun sharing your Emily Morgan with our group. You are marvellous host & hostess, terrific sailors, and loads of fun. So relaxed now, I can’t even write a coherent thank you. Love having you as my newest Caribbean friends. Hope to join you again soon.

Thank you so much for what has been an amazing week! We have visited places we couldn’t have gone to so a truly unforgettable experience and one we would love to do again.

November, 2014

John

Anna & Bones, Bones & Anna – doesn’t matter which way you say it, you make a perfect team chartering a wonderful yacht. Nothing’s too much trouble and all is aimed at having a fun week – which we have with fantastic food to boot! Excellent!

Antigua, 2016

Jenny

Brilliant trip – just loved it. Great company! Fab sailing for a dinghy racer – wont forget the 57.1 knot gust & Emily Morgan took it in her stride with no problem. Wish I wasn’t going home either.

Cascais to Las Palmas, October 2015

Catrin

I was lucky enough to be able to hitch a ride with Anna & Bones and I don’t think I could have been a on a better yacht, with better skippers! I learnt more than I’d hoped in the short trip and both Anna & Bones were generous with their knowledge. Fantastic food and what

St Lucia to St Thomas, 2015

Denis

Bones & Anna are true to their word, made my holiday in Antigua even more amazing and wonderful! Thanks guys – much appreciated.

December, 2014

Kitty

Fabulous time sailing, making new friends & snorkelling. Extremely relaxing vacation and would come again. Thanks Anna & Bones for a great holiday.

Three fantastic trips – a great intro to the beautiful Emily Morgan. Heavy weather and fair winds she sailed splendidly. Above all thanks to Anna & Bones for giving us an amazing start to our worldwide adventure. PS The ARC crew were the biz

Cascais to Las Palmas, ARC, St Lucia to Antigua 2015

Jane

You add a whole new level to best vacation. All the sailing and none of the pressure. See you again my friends…..

March 2015

Mario & Christine

An inspiring and growing experience! Thank you for the trip of a lifetime! Such gracious and kind hosts! Bones & Anna are the best! We truly are thankful for making our holiday amazing Also , thank you so much for the lovely and thoughtful meals – the love in the food was tasted ! I

Wonderful experience to sail with true professionals on a great boat. Top class organisation, accommodation and food. Wish I could stay on for the ocean crossing. Thank you for a great time and hope we will meet up again.